Procedures

ALWAYS READ THE VIDEO ASSIGNMENT BEFORE YOU BEGIN ANY UNIT. It is the longest, hardest part of each unit. It will require a lot of thought and practice. You will do much better, learn much more, if you keep the video assignment in the back of your mind as you move through the other assignments.

Vocabulary for each unit
1. At the top of each unit page, you'll see, "Vocabulary for this unit." This provides links to video segments, where you can view each sign in motion. Illustrations for each sign are also provided at the end of every unit, in your workbook.

Introductions/Lectures
1. DON'T SKIP THESE! I elaborate on the material from the workbook, and sometimes simplify it, here. In my opinion, the authors of Signing Naturally 1 make easy concepts harder than they have to be, by giving things technical names. Although they take great pains to separate American Sign Language from English (which I agree with in principle), the languages have some things in common, and comparing the two can be useful. That's the kind of thing you'll find in the introductions and lectures.

2. You'll be tested on information found in the introductions. So, DON'T SKIP THEM!

Workbook assignments
1. ALWAYS preview the workbook assignment before you view any video segment.

2. Each independent workbook assignment has a Submit button. Click it, and you'll be taken to an online worksheet related to the assignment. Yes, some of the answers are in the back. However, your errors are VITAL information for me. I'll be able to help you master the language if I can see where you're struggling. You're not given points for accuracy; you're scored on whether you submitted the assignment or not. You can fill in most worksheets and submit them more than once. So, there's no reason to cheat.

Culture assignments
1. Each lesson includes a culture assignment, wherein you're expected to visit Web sites I've provided in order to research answers to a questionnaire. It's like a treasure hunt, and all you have to do is fill in the blanks.

2. Bear in mind that the research you do for the culture assignments will be used in discussions. You'll also be tested on the information you find in the Final Exam.

Comprehension checks
1. Some of these will be short quizzes on material contained within the workbook. Others will be video segments, wherein you're expected to view the video online, interpret it, and submit your interpretation to me. Although they're called "exams" in the gradebook, they're not. The exam format was the only one that allowed certain features that I wanted, so don't panic.

Discussions
1. At the end of every unit, you're required to participate in a discussion. In each discussion, you must:

A. Respond to a question I've posted
B. Respond to a classmate's answer

2. You're also required to respond to lectures in the discussion format. I'm looking for thoughtful discourse on the topics; it's okay to disagree with me. I welcome other perspectives.

Videos
1. Videos are required at the end of every unit as part of a competency check. You may be required to develop a short script, memorize it, then act it out.

2. You'll videotape three units per video, for a total of two for the semester, plus a final video. It's okay with me if you want to tape over your videos when you get them back, but you might enjoy looking at them later, after you've taken ASL 1.2 and 2.1.

3. THE VIDEOS FOR THIS COURSE ACCOUNT FOR 46% OF YOUR GRADE. You will not be penalized for mistakes. If you turn in the videos with all assigned scenarios included and it's clear that you tried hard, you'll get an "A." However, if you turn in a video and it's clear that you haven't been practicing, you'll receive a lower score. If you don't turn in a video at all, you'll get a "zero," of course. Take these video projects seriously. Get them done, and turn them in.